Effectiveness of a Visual Imagery Training Program to Improve Prospective Memory in Older Adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment: A Randomized Controlled Study.

Prospective memory (PM) problems in aging and, to a greater extent, in mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compromise functional independence. This study examined the effectiveness of a cognitive training program based on visual imagery to improve PM among older adults with and without MCI. Participants were older adults, 24 with MCI and 24 cognitively healthy (HOA). Half of them (12 MCI and 12 HOA) were randomly assigned to the PM training program, the other half to the no-training control group. All participants also completed a pre- and post-test evaluation, including neuropsychological tests, questionnaires, and the Ecological Test of Prospective Memory (TEMP). There was no significant effect of the intervention on the TEMP total, event-based or time-based scores for either the MCI or HOA groups. However, the trained MCI group committed fewer false alarms (i.e., more efficient identification of prospective cues) in the event-based condition of the TEMP at post-test. On the other hand, all trained participants performed better than control participants on retrospective memory tests, which suggests that visual imagery-based training is more effective to improve retrospective memory than PM. Possible explanations for these results are explored.

Characterization of prospective memory in mild cognitive impairment by using the Ecological test of Prospective Memory.

The objective of this study was to explore the exact nature, extent, and cognitive correlates of prospective memory deficits in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) by using the Ecological Test of Prospective Memory (TEMP). Twenty-five MCI participants and 25 healthy older adults (HOA) performed the TEMP, the Envelope Task, the Comprehensive Assessment of Prospective Memory (CAPM), and a neuropsychological test battery. Results showed that, during the TEMP, MCI participants had difficulty detecting the moment to perform the intentions in the time-based condition (prospective component) and retrieving the associated actions in the event- and time-based conditions (retrospective component). The prospective component of the event-based condition was correlated with retrospective memory, whereas the prospective component of the time-based condition was correlated with executive functions. Finally, the TEMP yielded good sensitivity and specificity for discriminating between MCI and HOA, contrary to the Envelope Task and the CAPM.

Prospective memory assessment in acute mild traumatic brain injury.

Objective: Prospective memory (PM) is the ability to remember to perform an intention at the appropriate time in the future. It is of primary importance for daily living, and its disruption may impact functional autonomy. To date, few studies have examined PM during the acute phase of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI), despite the high prevalence of this neurological condition and its potential impact on cognition. Method: Twenty mTBI patients (time since injury ranged from 45 to 73 days) and 15 healthy control participants performed the Ecological Test of Prospective Memory (TEMP), a simulated errand task in which participants were required to execute 10 event-based (EB) and five time-based (TB) tasks. The TEMP separately evaluates PM phases as well as prospective and retrospective components in event- and time-based conditions. Participants also completed a neuropsychological test battery. Correlations were performed between cognitive composite scores and the TEMP. Results: mTBI patients experienced difficulty in learning the content of intentions, retrieving these intentions in the time-based condition (prospective component) and recalling the associated actions in the event- and time-based conditions (retrospective component). Retrospective memory composite score was correlated with the learning and retention phases of the TEMP, whereas attention/working memory and executive composite scores were correlated with the time-based condition and performance on the ongoing task. Conclusion: These results suggest the presence of global PM impairment during the acute phase of mTBI, as well as impairment of retrospective memory, attention/working memory, and executive functions, which are key components for PM performance.